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cnbc.com
Teasury yields tumble after June CPI slows much more than expected
Treasury yields fell Tuesday after a cooler-than-expected inflation report.
cnbc.com
Consumer prices rose 3.5% annually in June, less than expected as energy prices eased
The consumer price index in June was expected to increase 3.8% from a year ago.
cnbc.com
Warren Buffett excludes Gates Foundation from his annual donations of Berkshire stock
Warren Buffett omitted the Gates Foundation from his annual charitable stock gifts.
bbc.co.uk
US inflation rate eases to 3.5% as gasoline prices fall
While US inflation rate fell in June, concerns remain over prices rising again due to the renewed conflict in the Middle East.
theguardian.com
Oil, gas and UK government borrowing costs prices jump as Middle East tensions ratchet higher – business live
Oil prices hit four-week highs and European shares fall after fresh US-Iran attacks and blockade on Iranian shippingCrude oil prices have hit their highest levels in four weeks, as Washington and Tehran traded attacks and the US reimposed a naval blockade of Iran.Brent crude has jumped $3.79 a barrel to $87.08 a barrel, a 4.55% increase, the highest since 12 June, before the ceasefire. The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict on 17 June and engaged in negotiations for a permanent peace deal.What we think is that the peak of the escalation is behind us, but there are upside risks to oil prices if these disruptions continue and that will keep prices in the $85-$90 range.But I would have added the very strong caveat to that it seems to me that the situation remained unstable, and the ceasefire was fragile. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Warsh promises inflation will be a 'thing of the past,' cites benefits of AI investment boom
Warsh pledged Tuesday to "get monetary policy right" and defeat the inflation that has bedeviled the central bank for the past five years.
bbc.co.uk
PPE failures left NHS staff poorly protected and wasted £10bn, Covid inquiry finds
Healthcare staff were unable to properly protect themselves, or those in their care, from dangerous infections, says the latest inquiry report.
cnbc.com
TikTok policy chief defends safety measures amid EU push to limit children's social media access
TikTok's policy chief defended the platform's safety measures as the European Union pushes ahead with restricting children's access to social media.
theguardian.com
‘If we die, we die together’: wife of Ryanair passenger almost sucked through window speaks
Svetlana Grković says she grabbed her husband’s legs while he was ‘outside up to his chest’ for two minutesRyanair passenger almost sucked out of window during flightRyanair has axed family seating policy – but kids’ fees add upA woman who saved her husband from being completely sucked out of a Ryanair plane mid-flight has said she thought as he held on to his legs: “If we die, we die together.”Ljubisa Karović was sucked out headfirst on the flight on Friday after an engine failure resulted in parts smashing the acrylic window. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
IBM shares skid more than 20% after company warns second-quarter earnings fell short of expectations
CEO blamed the shortfall on weakness in the software and infrastructure business because clients shifted money toward hardware purchases.
bbc.co.uk
How much should you give to the year-end teacher collection?
Collecting money for a joint present might overcome the competitive gift-giving, but it can still cause friction.
theguardian.com
South East Water to pay £30.5m penalty after multiple supply failures
Ofwat says repeated errors led to ‘real disruption and hardship for residents and businesses across many years’Business live – latest updatesSouth East Water will pay £30.5m after a series of supply interruptions, customer failings and for breaching its licence, the regulator Ofwat has said.The watchdog said the redress package concluded three investigations into the supplier and included a previously proposed £22m fine for water supply failures between 2020 and 2023 affecting more than 286,000 people. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Retail-trader 'bottleneck bros' eyeing AI supply chain can't wait for SK Hynix options
For many of those retail tech traders, SK Hynix's memory business reminds them of Micron – the paragon of the supply-chain bottleneck thesis.
theguardian.com
Johnson government wasted £10bn on PPE, Covid inquiry finds
Chair criticises use of ‘VIP lane’ to prioritise PPE contracts for companies with Tory connections in damning reportBoris Johnson’s government wasted £10bn of public money because of the flawed way it went about buying personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, an official inquiry has concluded.The Covid-19 inquiry chair, Heather Hallett, also criticised the then Conservative government’s controversial “VIP lane”, which gave high priority for PPE contracts to companies with political connections to the Tories. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Global shipping industry sounds the alarm over Trump’s Hormuz toll plan
For shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, it is "fundamentally wrong" to charge tolls for passage through international waters, regardless of the country in charge.
theguardian.com
China’s monthly car exports top 1m for first time as overall trade soars
Country risks new tariffs from US and EU as it looks likely to match or beat last year’s record surplus of $1tnBusiness live – latest updatesChina’s monthly car exports topped 1m for the first time in June as overall overseas shipments from the world’s second biggest economy rose 27%.Official Chinese customs data showed that a stronger-than-expected trade performance kept China on track to match or beat last year’s record trade surplus of $1tn (£748bn), achieved despite Donald Trump’s curtailed tariff war. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
California leads lawsuit to block Paramount Warner Bros mega merger
The state, where both studios have headquarters, has joined 11 others to halt the deal.
bbc.co.uk
South East Water must pay £30.5m for supply failures
Regulator Ofwat confirms this penalty follows three investigations into the water company.
bbc.co.uk
Woman's Hour
We hear about a new study exploring the impact hormones have on women with ADHD.
cnbc.com
A French underwear brand is taking on fast fashion — with an IPO
Le Slip Français will make its stock market debut in Paris on Tuesday, betting that consumers will pay for locally made clothing amid competition from Shein.
theguardian.com
UK’s alcohol-free beer boom threatened by regulations, trade body warns
BBPA wants content definition for beer to be considered non-alcoholic to be changed from 0.05% to 0.5%Pubs and brewers are being prevented from capitalising on Britons’ record-breaking thirst for alcohol-free beer because of over-strict regulation, a trade body has warned.More than 64m pints of low- and no-alcohol beer is forecast to be sold over the summer, an increase of 8m compared with 2025, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said, citing the figures as proof that the category is “not just a fad”. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Removing tax from food could cost £14m - minister
Treasury says a GST removal from essential grocery items would mostly benefit the richest islanders.
cnbc.com
Business declares war on Pentagon stock buyback, dividend restrictions moving in Senate
The provision was pushed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and was included in the National Defense Authorization Act on a bipartisan basis.
cnbc.com
Is Hormuz open? Trump's toll threat intensifies rush to bypass the Strait altogether
Gulf producers are increasingly relying on alternative routes to keep crude moving as shipping disruptions expose the risks of depending on the Strait of Hormuz.
theguardian.com
US refunds $81bn in Trump tariffs after supreme court ruled them illegal
Government has been forced to pay back duties to companies that imported goods into the US that were hit by Trump’s tariffsChina’s monthly car exports top 1m as overall trade soarsBusiness live – latest updatesThe US government has already paid back tens of billions of dollars in tariffs it collected before the supreme court ruled them illegal, according to budget figures released on Monday.Tariffs – taxes on imported goods – have been a key part of Donald Trump’s economic plan since he took office again last year. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. targets Iranian military assets in another round of strikes as Tehran hits Gulf states
The U.S. has completed a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, as Tehran targets U.S. military facilities in the region.
theguardian.com
EasyJet Holidays’ ‘spa’ resort was lacking an on-site spa or gym
We booked the £1,070-a-week retreat because of the facilities, but when we got there they were a round-trip awayLast month’s tale of a winter break spoiled because easyJet Holidays had neglected to state that the hotel’s heated pool and spa incurred hefty charges was discordant music to another reader’s ears. He writes:We returned last month from an easyJet Holidays break at a “wellness retreat” with prominently advertised spa facilities, which turned out not to have any spa facilities whatsoever. We had booked a £1,070 week at the Vasia Sea Retreat in Sissi, Crete, because I wanted access to a gym at least twice a day as rehabilitation from a serious knee injury, and my wife was keen for pool and pilates classes. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: The Hormuz blockade is back and Trump is tolling
Oil markets reel as President Trump revives his naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and demands a 20% toll charge.
cnbc.com
China exports in June rise at fastest pace since 2021 as AI boom, tariff rush lift trade
China's exports to the U.S. jumped around 14% last month while imports grew 26%, according to CNBC calculation of the official data.
cnbc.com
Taiwan's second-largest chipmaker starts mass production in Singapore; Citi sees improving outlook
Taiwan’s UMC has kicked off mass production of silicon photonics wafers at its Singapore facility amid positive Citi forecast.
bbc.co.uk
Pop-up free school uniform and prom dress stall
People are being encouraged to donate, swap or take items they need for free.
bbc.co.uk
Parent cooking classes 'built my confidence'
New cooking scheme aims to help parents learn healthy recipes which are convenient to make.
theguardian.com
North Sea oil industry urges Burnham to approve new drilling in UK waters
Lobby appeals to prospective PM’s reindustrialisation agenda as it pushes for Rosebank and Jackdaw approvalThe UK’s North Sea oil industry has made a last-ditch attempt to curry favour with the Labour government by appealing to Andy Burnham’s reindustrialisation agenda just days before he is expected to become Britain’s next prime minister.Industry lobbyists have written to more than 400 Labour MPs to call on the government’s new leaders to allow more oil and gas drilling in UK waters to support homegrown energy and show “a commitment to UK manufacturing, industrial capability and the skilled workforce that has powered the nation for generations”. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
How US commerce secretary's Epstein links were uncovered by British whistleblower
Simon Andriesz made the discovery about Howard Lutnick in publicly released Epstein files.
cnbc.com
'Nobody underwrote for that': Private credit faces a key test as higher rates squeeze borrowers
Private credit is facing a new pressure point from elevated rates, which could hit under-pressure borrowers.
cnbc.com
Trump's Hormuz toll plans bring oil supply risks back in spotlight
While the proposed levy would raise shipping costs, an escalating conflict could remove barrels from the market altogether.
bbc.co.uk
UAE condemns Iran's 'brazen' attack on tankers as US launches fresh strikes
The third consecutive night of US strikes on Iran came as Trump announced a 20% charge as part of a new blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
cnbc.com
Singapore's economy expands 5.7% in the second quarter, beating expectations
The growth figure was higher than the 5.5% expected, but lower than the revised 6.3% in the first quarter.
bbc.co.uk
US burrito giant Chipotle opening first outlet in Mexico
Other US fast-food brands have struggled to succeed in the countries their dishes originated in.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Hormuz toll threats, Mideast tensions keep investors on edge
Dwindling hopes of a Mideast peace deal and a tech sell-off sent U.S. benchmark indexes lower overnight, while Asia markets traded lower Tuesday.
cnbc.com
'Listing is a must': Chinese humanoid startups are rushing to launch IPOs
Shenzhen-based LimX Dynamics is the latest humanoid company in China to raise capital in recent weeks as investors eye IPO exits.
cnbc.com
Japan’s bond market is back in play after decades in the wilderness
JGBs have been selling off amid policy normalization and concerns over Tokyo's spending plans, but experts say that they deserve another look from investors.
bbc.co.uk
Is tracking your food purchases good for your health?
Food tracking apps are popular, but are they a good way to make us eat a healthier diet?
theguardian.com
World Cup and sunshine prompt UK consumers to splash out on beer and online shopping
Despite spending increase in June, Barclays says most people still pessimistic about economyRelentless sunshine and the World Cup coaxed consumers to spend more on beer and online shopping last month, with purse strings expected to remain loose as England fans gear up for Wednesday’s semi-final.Most people remain pessimistic about the UK economy, according to data from Barclays Bank based on debit and credit card transactions. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
The mysterious crypto firm backed by Farage's biggest donor
Tether is a giant in crytocurrency, an industry that Nigel Farage believes the UK should be embracing.
cnbc.com
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: Betting on Shenzhen over Silicon Valley
The coastal Chinese city of Shenzhen has become a hub for tech hardware that U.S. firms can't ignore.
cnbc.com
Trump proposes 20% toll on cargo through Strait of Hormuz; restarts Iran blockade
The Strait of Hormuz is a major oil shipping route and the epicenter of the U.S. and Israel's ongoing war with Iran.
cnbc.com
Trump to claim declassified intel reveals 2020 election interference: MS NOW
Trump said he will make a "Speech to the Nation on Thursday evening, at 9 P.M. Eastern," without providing further details.
cnbc.com
South Carolina governor taps Lindsey Graham's sister to serve as interim senator
The death of Sen. Lindsey Graham ignited a scramble among South Carolina Republicans to prepare for a special primary election to replace him on the GOP ticket.
cnbc.com
U.S. says more than 8 million barrels of oil transited Hormuz Sunday with military assistance
Ship traffic has fallen as the security situation in Hormuz rapidly deteriorated. Iran has repeatedly attacked ships, triggering fresh fighting with the U.S.
cnbc.com
SpaceX stock sinks for a second-straight day, nearing $135 IPO price
SpaceX went public a month ago in a record IPO. Elon Musk's space and AI company was added to the Nasdaq-100 last week.
theguardian.com
Lawyers to investigate claims of GB power grid cover-up over blackout risk
Operator brings in independent legal firm to look into whistleblower allegations relating to June heatwaveGreat Britain’s grid operator has brought in independent investigators to look into accusations that its staff were involved in a cover-up over the power system being at a greater risk of blackouts during the heatwave.The government-owned energy system operator will face the scrutiny of an external legal firm after a whistleblower claimed that control room staff were warned against leaving a paper trail relating to efforts to stabilise the power system during record high temperatures in late June. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
US state attorneys general file lawsuit in effort to block Paramount merger
Bipartisan group argue in lawsuit that $110bn merger would hurt competition and lead to thousands of job lossesA dozen US state attorneys general are seeking to block the $110bn merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, arguing in a lawsuit filed on Monday that it would hurt competition and lead to higher prices for consumers.The coalition behind the lawsuit is led by the California attorney general, Rob Bonta, who has been a staunch critic of the merger since it was agreed to in February after a bidding war between David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance and Netflix. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
UN maritime agency opposes Hormuz transit fees after Trump demands protection money
The security situation in Hormuz has deteriorated since Iran attacked multiple commercial ships transiting the strait over the past week.
theguardian.com
Lancashire chemicals factory facing potential legal claim announces closure
More than 90 residents have expressed interest in contamination claim against AGC Chemicals EuropeA Pfas factory in Lancashire has announced plans to close down, just days after the Guardian revealed that more than 90 residents had signed up to be involved in a potential legal claim over contamination of the local area.AGC Chemicals Europe is consulting with employees and their union representatives about plans to cease operations at its manufacturing plant in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire. The consultation is expected to last for at least 45 days. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Airline pilot skywrites ‘I’m bored’ over England-Wales border
Pilot took off from Liverpool and spent 20 minutes tracing out phrase that was captured on flight-tracking websiteA mischievous airline pilot spelled out his tedium by skywriting “I’m bored” over an estuary on the border between England and Wales.The message was captured on the airline tracking website Flightradar24. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Volkswagen’s crisis: another wake-up call for Germany and the EU | Editorial
Robust action is needed to protect European industries from unfair competition. The alternative is social strife amid growing insecurityAccording to a recent analysis, China enjoys a surplus in its manufactured goods trade with the European Union that is roughly equivalent to Italy’s national income. That trade disparity, it is estimated, continues to grow by about 30% each year. The stark implication, according to a paper from Centre for European Reform, is that Europe, with Germany in the frontline, risks “deindustrialisation at China’s hand”.The gravity of the threat was grimly evident in the car industry last week, as Volkswagen’s supervisory board met to discuss radical proposals to cut 100,000 jobs – around a sixth of the company’s global workforce – and close plants. Taking into account indirect as well as direct employment, the automotive sector is responsible for around 3m jobs in Germany. But manufacturers in the country’s flagship industry have found themselves in a triple bind. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Ben Jennings on the challenges Burnham will face in No 10 – cartoon
Discover and buy more of Ben’s cartoons hereOrder your own print of this cartoon from the Guardian Print Shop Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Volkswagen planning to cut up to 100,000 jobs globally
The group, which includes Porsche and Audi, has faced a steep fall in profits and tough competition from China.
bbc.co.uk
UK-Switzerland deal to scrap roaming charges and allow Britons to use e-gates
The UK signs a new services deal with Switzerland it says will increase exports by £5.2bn annually "in the long run".
theguardian.com
New twist in affordability checks row demands answers from Gambling Commission
Culture, media and sport committee questions bear a striking similarity to those racing industry has been askingLast Tuesday’s announcement by the Gambling Commission that it planned to introduce “financial risk assessments” – or affordability checks – for gambling customers seemed to mark the end of racing’s fierce, five-and-a-half-year campaign against the policy, but there has been a further twist to the extended tale after it emerged that the House of Commons’ culture, media and sport committee (CMSC) has written to the commission, requesting answers to a series of questions on the checks by 24 July.The cross-party committee’s questions for the regulator bear a striking similarity to many of those that the racing industry has been asking – to little or no avail – since checks were first proposed under the last Conservative government in late 2020. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
UK strikes landmark trade deal with Switzerland for crucial services sector
The British government estimates the free trade agreement to unlock £5.2 billion a year in exports to Switzerland over the coming years.
theguardian.com
Hide the teenagers and the toilet roll! Why does my estate agent want my house to look like nobody lives in it? | Zoe Williams
I’ve been asked to put away the dog bed – and even my shower gel. Surely prospective buyers should know that I’ll take all my mess with me when I leaveTrying to sell a house is pretty much a once-a-decade event for me, so I shouldn’t be surprised that times have changed. When I sold my first flat in 2006, the norm was actively anti-tidy. Obviously you’d spirit away food waste and animal detritus, maybe you’d put a lid on your laundry basket, but the market was overheated; everything was nonsensically expensive. In that respect it was much like it is now, except that back then, we were still surprised and a bit baffled. Consequently, a bit of visible wear and tear was beneficial, because people felt they might be getting a bargain from a dumb seller, rather than spending 50 grand over the odds for some pristine skirting boards.Fast forward a decade, and things had changed somewhat. Everyone had got used to not being able to afford shelter, but the market was much slower, so you did have to spruce up your quarters a bit. For instance, I’d once managed to spill a triple espresso on the outside of the house, a vivid dark brown splash that no amount of weather, over the years, managed to shift. I remember arguing with the estate agent about whether or not I should get someone to paint over it – my point being, “What a silly notion, when the next people might want to paint the entire front some colour other than white,” and his view, to the contrary, being, “It’s just a bit off-putting, entering into a commercial exchange with someone who would spill coffee on their own house and never get round to painting over it. You’d wonder what else they hadn’t dealt with. Subsidence. Electrical hazard. A squirrel colony in the attic.” In retrospect I am ashamed at how slowly he had to walk me through this. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
JP Morgan boss pressed by US senator about contact with Jeffrey Epstein
Elizabeth Warren asks Jamie Dimon if he was advised to ‘mildly threaten’ UK chancellor over tax on bankers’ bonusesA leading Democratic senator has written to the boss of JP Morgan to request clarification on the bank’s contact with the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the senate banking committee, wrote to Jamie Dimon last week to ask if he took advice from Epstein while lobbying against a UK tax on banker bonuses, in a letter published by the committee on Monday. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
The SpaceX IPO made history. One month on has it lost momentum?
A month on from the firm's stock market debut, the reality of how SpaceX currently makes money has seemed to come into clearer focus.
theguardian.com
Is Donald Trump winning his war against the media?
President and allies have sued, cut access and issued subpoenas, but experts say media still producing strong workDonald Trump has ramped up his attacks on the media to a level without precedent in American history in the first 17 months of his second presidency.But have Trump and his allies won their war against the media – or at least put the industry on a weaker footing than in the past? The answer isn’t so straightforward. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
China’s graduate glut: millions enter a job market with little use for them
Record numbers find there is little demand for their skills, as entry-level tech roles are hit by AI and automationThis time of year is graduation season in China: traditionally a bittersweet period of solemn goodbyes and family celebrations as university students transition from campus life into adulthood. Now it also increasingly represents trepidation about the future.Each year, millions more graduates are thrust into China’s already saturated jobs market. The situation for this year’s cohort, flooding into an increasingly crowded pool of applicants fighting for an insufficient number of positions, is arguably the bleakest yet. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
First the £10 pint, now the £6.50 flat white: coffee industry faces inflationary pressures
From harvests dampened by El Niño to wage and tax rises, getting coffee beans from crop to cup costs more than everDrinkers across the UK were shocked when a pint in some London bars hit £10, and now a cup of coffee is facing a similar inflationary rate. Some baristas are now charging £6.50 for a flat white.Higher energy bills, inflated by the war in the Middle East, as well as government policies which have increased tax and wages, are filtering through into coffee prices, experts said. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Yorkshire Water paid us £6,800 by mistake – and said to ‘enjoy’ the money
Only when Guardian Money contacted the company did it discover the cash was wages owed to its staffIn May, our supplier, Yorkshire Water, made a surprise payment of more than £3,500 into my partner’s bank account.We assumed that it was an error and we would be told to repay it. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Navigating the unknown together’: me and my idiot AI boyfriend – podcast
I believe that chatbots have no place in a decent society, and am repelled by the topic of AI in general. But could I be seduced?By Lauren Oyler. Read by Kate HandfordRead the text version hereSupport the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpodA version of this piece previously appeared in the Yale Review Continue reading...
theguardian.com
China’s massive AI rollout - podcast
Senior China correspondent Amy Hawkins on China’s embrace of AI, from medical avatars to food delivery drones and state surveillanceWhile the spread of AI has been met perhaps with a lot of scepticism in the west, China has fully embraced the technology, explains Amy Hawkins, from millions of users talking to AI doctors, to the use of intelligent robots in factories, and drones delivering food on the Great Wall of China.AI has also been eagerly taken up by the state, not least in the opportunities it provides for further surveillance, the Guardian’s senior China correspondent says. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘The trash does not stop’: life among the garbage mountains of Jakarta, the world’s biggest city
Indonesia’s government is grappling with how to manage waste at Bantar Gebang – Jakarta’s largest landfill – which supports the livelihood of thousands of waste pickersOn the outskirts of Jakarta, huge rolling peaks of rubbish stretch across more than 100 hectares (247 acres), towering over nearby villages. Each day a convoy of trucks plough in and dump more garbage into one of Asia’s largest landfills.Here, thousands of people live on the fringe of the site and make their income picking through the waste and salvaging scraps for resale. The work is dangerous – earlier this year seven people died after one of the massive trash mounds caved in, burying them alive. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
10 years of Pokémon Go and the millions still trying to catch 'em all
Michael Steranka, vice president at the mobile game's owner Scopely, says it has always been about bringing people together.
bbc.co.uk
New era for Gibraltar with removal of 118-year-old border controls with Spain
It is hoped that free movement between the UK territory and Spain will provide an economic boost.
bbc.co.uk
How to change bank, energy or broadband provider and save money
Changing your broadband or energy supplier, or even your bank, for a better deal is simpler than it used to be.
theguardian.com
Britain’s cars and SUVs are growing bigger – but there is a way to stop this deadly ‘carspreading’ | Christian Wolmar
Larger vehicles crowd our roads and are far more dangerous to pedestrians. Let’s curb them before they do even more damageWe need an Ozempic for cars. They are growing at a phenomenal rate, wreaking havoc on the roads, squeezing out smaller vehicles in car parks and endangering pedestrians.Like ever-hungry teenagers, cars in Europe are growing, on average, a centimetre wider every two years, according to new research reported by the Guardian. And fewer than half of new cars in the UK can fit into a conventional parking space. As there is, remarkably, no width restriction for cars, no law can stop this growth until they reach the size of HGVs – that is, 2.55m wide – which are restricted.Christian Wolmar is a transport commentator and author of The Liberation Line, the story of the railwaymen who rebuilt the railways in Europe after D-day Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Readers reply: Why put solar panels on green space when we could put them over car parks?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical conceptsThis week’s question: Why is there no rugby culture in Germany?I would like to know why we build solar farms over green space, when we could just put them over massive car parks as a popular current internet meme suggests. Chris, MiddlesbroughSend new questions to nq@theguardian.com. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Majority of U.S. workers support an AI wealth fund as tech layoffs surge, survey finds
A majority of U.S. employees now want an AI sovereign wealth fund to hold corporations more accountable, according to a recent survey, as tech layoffs rise.
theguardian.com
UK must cap political donations to stop the rich buying influence | Heather Stewart
If Keir Starmer won’t act then his successor should – by restricting the power of a small group of mega-donors Just as Nigel Farage kicks off a summer of “arguing with a bin”, as the chancellor, Rachel Reeves called it, Labour’s bill to clean up politics returns to the House of Commons this week.As more questions emerge about the financing of Reform UK and Farage’s mega-donor chums – through the brilliant reporting of Guardian colleagues – MPs should seize the opportunity to toughen it up. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Nigel Farage is just one strand in the tangle of rightwing politicians and crypto investors | John Harris
These financiers want to remodel the UK into a form that suits them – one that could threaten to erode the barriers between crime and businessThis coming Tuesday, the government’s representation of the people bill comes back to the House of Commons for its third reading. It bundles up a multitude of measures, including an extension of the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds and welcome changes to voter registration. But thanks to the continuing furore around Nigel Farage and his extremely wealthy friends – such as the Thailand-based crypto-investor Christopher Harborne, who gave Farage a £5m “lottery win” personal gift and has donated in excess of £22m to Reform UK – the aspects of the legislation that have suddenly become its headline measures are focused on big-money donations.The government has already implemented a moratorium – but only a moratorium – on political donations in cryptocurrencies, the encrypted digital assets that, to quote the Electoral Commission, “present particular challenges and risks in meeting electoral law requirements in identifying donors and ensuring they are permissible”. There is a new annual £100,000 limit on donations from British citizens living abroad. Other legislative moves will now take the form of amendments to the bill: they include new checks on whether companies making donations are above board by measuring their profit as well as their revenues, and a requirement for parliamentary candidates to declare any donation above £2,230 (although “personal gifts” will continue to be exempt).John Harris is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘This was a righteous case. A holy war’: the lawyer who took on Meta and Google – and won
When Mark Lanier and his young client Kaley faced the tech giants in an LA courtroom earlier this year, it seemed a bigger battle than David v Goliath. But they scored a landmark victory, proving that the social media giants had created ‘addiction machines’ that harmed mental health. How did they pull it off?When Mark Zuckerberg walked into a Los Angeles courtroom on 18 February flanked by an entourage bedecked in Meta Ray-Bans, some people laughed. If this was an attempt at product placement for the company’s newest range of smart glasses, it was jarringly ill-judged: Zuckerberg was about to testify before a jury in a landmark lawsuit that sought to prove that Instagram and YouTube are addictive by design, and he had passed a throng of bereaved parents on his way into the courthouse. But the prosecution team, led by Mark Lanier, were not laughing.This was a serious trial. For the first time, the most powerful names in social media were being held to account for the inherent design of their platforms, rather than the content hosted on them. They were accused of deliberately and maliciously building products that keep children hooked, with disastrous consequences for the mental wellbeing of young people. It was a landmark case – a big tobacco moment for big tech. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘A very good clone’: news stories faked to lure victims to scam investment sites
Fraudsters create false articles that appear to be from publishers such as the Guardian to share on social mediaThe Guardian article looks interesting. It says the billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has stormed out of a BBC interview after presenter Laura Kuenssberg revealed details of his personal financial affairs – and now the episode has been removed from iPlayer.Among the detail in the piece is that Ratcliffe has been using an online investment platform to make money. The report says although the site has been kept secret, other people have used it too, and they have made a fortune. There is a link to the site where you can trade cryptocurrency, stocks and shares. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
How Aldi is taking on US supermarkets with its $4 almond butter
The German supermarket's $9bn US push targets urban hubs like Manhattan. Can its discount model match Walmart?
theguardian.com
Is the US trying to make scientists’ work so difficult that they simply give up? | Daniel Malinsky
New Trump administration rules would undermine longstanding research practices. It’s death by a thousand cutsA politician who aims to gradually privatize and ultimately destroy an institution funded by tax dollars – say, a public school system or public transportation network – may choose to do so by strategically disinvesting resources from that institution until it becomes barely functional, leading users to look elsewhere to meet their needs. Eventually, the user-base of the public system gets so low or frustrated that it seems reasonable to scrap the thing entirely, or re-direct public funds to private companies as contractors to provide the needed “service”. We’ve seen this strategy play out many times in states and city councils across America.It appears that the endgame of the Trump administration’s attacks on science and the research funding ecosystem is similar: grant freezes and administrative disarray at federal funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), new layers of project review by political appointees hunting for forbidden keywords such as “disparity” and “marginalized”, and proposed new restrictions to make international collaboration difficult or impossible all point towards a world where it’s just too onerous to do federally-funded scientific research. Is the goal to make scientists simply give up on the endeavor?Daniel Malinsky is an assistant professor of biostatistics in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘End of an era’: what is the future of British TV after Sky’s ITV takeover?
Merger stokes fears over job cuts, US influence and possible BBC and Channel 4 tie-up to take on Netflix and YouTubeOnly five years ago a bullish ITV was riding high, trumpeting the biggest annual advertising haul in its history, as the broadcaster pledged to become a national champion in the battle against the US streamers.Now its chief executive, Carolyn McCall, has raised the white flag, arguing that a cut-price sale of its TV and streaming business to Sky is the only route to survival as deep-pocketed companies such as Netflix and YouTube hoover up audiences and commercial revenues. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Reeves tells BBC: Burnham needs worked-through plan to govern from the start
The Chancellor tells Laura Kuenssberg she will be handing over a stable economy to the incoming PM.
theguardian.com
Safe from AI: which jobs will help you thrive in the future?
Experts say there will still be opportunities ahead in everything from teaching to hotels and the lawEntering the world of work often brings some uncertainty, but now there is another question: how can I AI-proof my career?We asked people from across various industries what they think the impact of AI will be on careers, and which jobs may be less affected. While it is still early days for the tech, many had ideas about how you can best prepare yourself for a successful career in this new world. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Will Trump Accounts deliver for American children?
The White House has hailed the project as giving new generations a stake in the American dream, but the scheme has its critics.
theguardian.com
‘A new consumer’: how weight-loss drugs are shaking up clothes shopping
As they slim down, UK and US users of GLP-1 jabs and pills are changing their spending habits – and their wardrobesTell us: what does the new weight-loss pill mean for you?“I’m now at a point where I’m going to buy even more clothes,” says Hayley Grice, 50, from Shropshire, who has dropped seven sizes after starting on the GLP-1 weight loss jab Mounjaro two years ago. “I’m very happy with my physique right now.”Grice, the financial director of a business she set up with her husband, tried gastric bypass surgery in 2009, but put most of the weight back on, and had been between UK dress sizes 26 and 28 (US sizes 22 and 24) all her adult life. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Chip giant SK Hynix raises $26.5bn as shares surge in bumper US listing
The shares surged as much as 17% in their Nasdaq trading debut on Friday following the record-breaking foreign listing.
bbc.co.uk
Man nearly sucked out of window mid-air on Ryanair plane, passengers say
The man's wife held onto his legs for around five minutes to stop him from being sucked out, officials say.
bbc.co.uk
Major car firms found not to have installed emissions-cheating devices
A High Court judge said some major car manufacturers did not install a device to cheat emissions testing.
bbc.co.uk
EasyJet agrees to surprise takeover bid as rival US firm swoops in
The airline says a bid from US firm Apollo has trumped a recent takeover offer from Castlelake.
bbc.co.uk
Should you be switching bank accounts?
Martin Lewis covers whether you should be switching bank accounts.
bbc.co.uk
EU threatens Meta with fines over 'addictive' Facebook and Instagram
Regulators say features such as infinite scroll contribute to "compulsive use" and "unhealthy habits".
theguardian.com
Pokémon Go fans gather in Times Square to celebrate 10 years of game – video
Pokémon Go celebrated its 10th anniversary with a Times Square takeover in New York featuring a special event to defeat the Pokémon species Mewtwo. Nearly 2,000 people played the game together simultaneously in what organisers called one of the largest in-person Pokémon battles in history Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Vapes to have less enticing names and flavours to protect children
People are being consulted about plans to stop vape companies using enticing flavour descriptions that "attract" children into experimenting.
theguardian.com
Homes for sale with stylish bedrooms in England and Wales – in pictures
From a warehouse conversion in London with views of the water, to a 17th-century barn with an annexe used as a yoga retreat Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
'Cool in 90 seconds' - the fake portable air conditioners sweeping the internet
The ASA says adverts claiming small devices can rapidly cool rooms were too good to be true.
bbc.co.uk
Pressure builds on Europe's biggest port to be greener
A lawsuit demands that the Port of Rotterdam moves faster to cut its dependence on fossil fuel firms.
bbc.co.uk
Big fall in oil, gas and cargo ships taking US-backed Hormuz route after new strikes
Data shows a decline in the number of ships - many carrying oil and gas - going through the waterway after attacks this week.
bbc.co.uk
Wealthy AI workers send San Francisco house prices soaring
The median cost of a home in the city is now $1.7m, a record high, according to the latest figures.
bbc.co.uk
How to find lost bank accounts
How to find lost bank accounts
bbc.co.uk
People Fixing The World
The people turning life experience into business ideas with funding and other support
theguardian.com
UK house prices rise for first time since start of Iran war
Typical property cost £299,330 in June, 0.2% more than the month before, says LloydsBusiness live – latest updatesHouse prices across the UK have risen for the first time since before the onset of the Iran war, leaving property values narrowly below those at the start of the year, according to a survey.The typical property cost £299,330 in June, a 0.2% increase on the month before. This came after a monthly drop of 0.2% in May, according to the latest Lloyds house price index, previously known as the Halifax HPI. The annual growth rate edged higher to 0.6% from 0.5%. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Robots available for rent: But what can they do?
Robotics tech is changing fast, so for many it makes sense to rent a robot.
bbc.co.uk
AI is 'not smart' so what's next in artificial intelligence?
Leading AI researcher Yan LeCun has a start-up which is developing a more flexible AI system.
bbc.co.uk
Why is crucial tech vulnerable to the heat?
Energy grids and train services are among the vital services that are vulnerable to very hot weather.
bbc.co.uk
Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
bbc.co.uk
The legal fight to get equal pay for Germany's disabled workers
A test case is seeking the minimum wage for 300,000 disabled people who currently get paid less.
bbc.co.uk
Do you know your 'sweat score'? The rise of hydration tech
Hydration tracking gadgets are flooding the market but is it too much information?
bbc.co.uk
Is Germany looking again at coal-powered electricity?
It had planned to abandon the fuel, but the higher cost of natural gas may make it think again.
bbc.co.uk
The artificial ice pyramids saving India's mountain villages
Himalayan villages are creating artificial glaciers to guarantee water for their crops in the spring.
bbc.co.uk
'We had to get out of the way': The backlash over delivery robots
As the delivery vehicles increasing take to US streets, bans and protest groups are springing up.
bbc.co.uk
What is Helium-3 and could we get it from the moon?
Helium-3 is expensive and demand is forecast to soar, so some are planning to mine it on the moon.
bbc.co.uk
The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
The final conclusions of the investigation have yet to be published, although more could become apparent in the coming days.
bbc.co.uk
How the High Street became a window on our political instability
High Streets have declined in recent years. What does this tell us about the UK?
bbc.co.uk
The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5. It's a story of tariffs, the climate, Gen Z cultural tastes, and savvy coffee farmers playing the market, writes Faisal Islam
bbc.co.uk
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
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